Our Project
At Project Pickleball Academy, we're dedicated to nurturing players at every stage of their pickleball journey. Whether you're picking up a paddle for the first time or aiming for national-level competition, our certified coaches are here to guide you.
Purpose
We help you set clear, personal goals, whether you're new to the game, chasing competition, or playing for the love of it. Every journey starts with knowing your "why."
Built
Our coaching develops your skills, strategy, and mindset with structured, progressive training. It's about building confident, capable players, step by step.
Play
Pickleball should be fun, challenging, and rewarding. We help you play with passion, compete with purpose, and enjoy every moment on the court.
Our Coaches
IPTPA Master Teaching Professional
Wellington Pickleball Club Head Coach
Six Zero Pickleball Ambassador
Director
William dewhirst
I’ve always been a sports nerd, so earning a Bachelor of Sports Coaching and working in Performance Analysis while coaching football felt like a natural path.
In October 2018, I discovered pickleball during a pop-up session at Ä€kau Tangi Sports Centre. I was instantly hooked by the energy, fun, and passion of the players. That session sparked a mission to grow the sport in Wellington. In 2019, I launched the first local programme, which helped lead to the formation of the Wellington Pickleball Club. I’ve served on the committee and now coach as Head Coach.
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Since then, I’ve developed my game and found success in tournaments across New Zealand. In 2024, I captained the New Zealand Open Pickleball Team at the World Pickleball Cup in Peru. In 2025, I have competed as part of the NZ Hustle Challenger team in Major League Pickleball Australia.
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I’ve loved watching our community grow, and with Project Pickleball Academy, I’m excited to build the next step a national player pathway for pickleball in New Zealand.
IPTPA Level 1
Joola Sponsored Athlete
Team Member of Sydney Smash Challenger in MLP Australia 2025
Coach
conor robertshawe
I first picked up a pickleball paddle in 2018 when I was 14 years old and within minutes I was hooked. It didn't take very long for pickleball to become my passion. Over the next 7 years I grew with the sport and competed all over the country loving every minute of it and became one of New Zealand’s top players.
In 2024 I took my skills to the pro level competing in Major League Pickleball Australia and am still competing at that level today. I've even reached destinations like Peru where I represented New Zealand in the Pickleball World Cup. Playing pickleball at that level allowed me to reflect on my skills and realise that I could share those skills with New Zealand through coaching.
Since then, I have become a qualified IPTPA qualified coach. I'm also still competing at the pro level across Australasia in the Major League Pickleball Australia Challenger league for the Sydney Smash. I’m super excited to work with anyone and everyone and share my knowledge. I'll see you on court!